1. Personal Connection
Springfield is blessed with a rich mix of arts and cultural organizations. Please name two places where you have had personally significant arts and/or cultural experiences. How have these organizations positively affected your life?
Most recently, I was home watching the Charlottesville, Virginia incident happen on CNN, before heading to the Jazz Roots festival in Court Square. The news from VA was both depressing and demoralizing. I then went downtown for the Jazz fest and it was beautiful on so many different levels. Instead of anger, violence, and hate, my wife and I shared Court Square with hundreds, from all ages and races, and enjoyed some very wonderful performers.
I have attended many shows and concerts in downtown, as well as the Springfield Adult forum and have always found them to be enjoyable and rewarding.
2. Addressing Citywide Issues
Can you provide examples on how you would integrate the arts, culture, and creative community in solving social problems such as safety in the downtown district?
I have followed closely the fine work done by John Simpson, both within the 1350 Main Street building and across the face of downtown. The arts do not provide safety in and of themselves, but they create a sense, a vibe, and that leads to more people on the street, more activity, and that makes downtown safer. Recently, I was talking to a 30 year old woman from Holyoke, who stated that the White Lion Wednesdays and Thunderbird Thursdays were very nice events and creating some very positive buzz for downtown Springfield.
As to how the arts interact, I have to leave that to the artists, and I just want to work with them moving forward to creating a better downtown, but also getting into the neighborhoods.
3. An Arts Destination
While Springfield is growing as a community, the city has yet to fully leverage the strength of our arts, culture, and creative community as a means for branding and attracting residents, employees, and visitors. How would you utilize our community to make Springfield a place where people want to live, work, play, and visit?
As noted above, Springfield is generating significant goodwill through the White Lion Wednesdays and Thunderbird Thursdays. The Seuss Museum is a real achievement. We need to continue to work on that, draw in the Hoop Hall better, and in a more meaningful manner, so that Springfield is a local, as well as national, attraction.
4. Your Priorities
When elected, what actions will you take to provide support and resources to the creative community?
I will solicit the views and opinions of the creative community and work to see what funds are available from the CDBG budget, as well as government grants and assistance to fund deserving initiatives in Springfield.
